[ Full-text transcription of: Letter from General H. B. Parks, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division of the Missouri Militia, Richmond, MO to General David R. Atchison, 3rd Division of Missouri Militia, Liberty, MO. ]
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Brigade
Head Quarters, at
2nd. Brigade, 3rd. Division
21st. Oct: 1838
Major Genl: D. R. Atchison.
Sir. I received yours of the 16th inst.
from Boonville, which I will let remains until I see
you_ I have now returned from the Country of Daviesz & assure
you this County is agitated by a deeper & more desperate
excitement than I have yet witnessed. I left the place
on tuesday the 16th inst. with two companies of mounted
men, having directed Col. Dunn to precede me to Daviesz
County, where I had good evidence to believe the troopz
and intending to act against Adamon Diahman
intending to cooperate with Genl. Doniphan. & the remainder
of the troops. I had proceeded on to the Head waters of
Crooked River, when a severe snowstorm over took us
& we were compelled to abandon the undertaking, for
the present, the troops, were dismissed until further
ordersz, and the troops under Col. Dunn had been
ordered home by Genl. Doniphan, who came as far
as
with a part of my staff proceeded onto
which I reached on Tuesday night, & learning that
the Clay Troops had gone home, I determined to
proceed to Daviesz, & examine the state of the Country._
on thursday I proceeded on to the town of
had burnt a store house in
to Jacob Stollingz-I sent two men to see and
learn the fact. & on their return confirmed the
news I saw at Adam on Diahmon about 500
Mormonz, under armz. all well armed, about
200 of them mounted_ I asked them their motive
in appearing in armz_their answer waz “they
intended to defend that place-they had been driven
from Dewitt & other placez, and here they were
determined to stand and die rather than be driven
from that place”_
I next visited Mill port & found on
my way down the ridge, that the inhabitants
had left their housez, and all above Pennington’s
have fled- That County is in a worse State than
at any former period, and I believe that the
Mormons are now the aggressors, as I have
seen many depredationz, which they have com:
:mitted- I have certificates of their having taken
armz from the Citizen of Daviesz forcibly in The
excitement in this County is more deep and
full of vengeanes than I have yet seen it- &
I would not be surprised, if some signal act
of vengeance would be taken on these fanatickz-
Wednesday next is fixed for a full and general
meeting of the citizens of this County to take
into consideration, the steps necessary to be taken
in this state of affairz-I do not know what to do.
I will remain passive until I hear from you
I do not believe calling out the militia
would avail any thing towards restoring
peace, unlesz they were called out in such
force as to fight the Mormonz & drive them
from the Country- This would satisfy this
people-but I cannot agree to it. I hold myself
ready to execute as far as I can go any order
from you, and wish you to advise the Com:
:mander-in-chief as to the situation of the
upper Country-perhaps a visit from
him would have some effect in ally:
:ing the excitement- I remain your
obdt:Servt.
H. G. Parks. Genl.
2nd. Brigade. 3rd. Div
H. G. Parks
to
D. R. Atchison